Foldable articulated dolly, suitable for the transport and loading of room cleaning and washing equipment

Abstract: There is provided a known type of dolly with a metallic structure, that is improved to increase its performance. Such dolly is composed of two frames (6, 8), shaped as a reverse U, mutually crossed as an X with a loading platform (14, 16) in the lower area. The frame ends are equipped with wheels (18). The two frames (6, 8) are mutually hinged next to their crossing (2, 4) and the platform (14, 16) below is of the articulated type, so that the dolly can be reduced almost to a parcel from the extended position. The novelty is provided by modifying and integrating one of the frames (8) with members (28, 36) that are integral and coplanar with it, so that it can be able to support pieces of equipment (32, 38, 40, 42), not only suspended ones any more, but also overhanging ones, and this without having to use hinging axes that are common to the two frames (6, 8).

Description: The present invention deals with a foldable articulated dolly, suitable for the transport and loading of room cleaning and washing equipment. For years, cleaning equipment manufacturers have been marketing dollies with a metallic structure, whose type can be reduced to a parcel when not being used, composed of two frames, shaped as a reverse U, mutually crossed as an X, with a loading platform in the lower area. The frame ends are equipped with wheels. The two reverse-U frames are mutually hinged next to their crossing and the platform below is of the articulated type, according to known solutions, not only in this field of dollies, but also in other sectors. In fact, the platform is composed of two parts that are mutually hinged in an intermediate section and that are also hinged at their ends, next to their connection to the reverse U-frames. The two parts of the platform, when the dolly is open, are coplanar and, when loaded, this coplanarity is ensured by two extensions belonging to one of them, that, after having passed the intermediate hinging axis, rest on the other part. By lifting the platform next to the intermediate hinging, its two component parts are closed like a book, forcing the two supporting frames to close one against the other. Vice versa, when the two frames are one next to the other, by extending them to arrange them as an open X, the platform is restored, since its two component parts are opened again, reaching coplanarity. Such a dolly is used to transport rubbish bags, to transport linen-carrying bags, etc. The mouth edges of the bag containers are hanged to the upper cross members of the reverse U-frames, while the bag bottoms are supported by the platform below. The upper cross members of the reverse U-frames are also useful as handrail to manoeuvre the dolly when moving it. So far, what has been described relates to long-existing dollies in all markets that are produced practically by all cleaning equipment manufacturers. US-A-3.286.752 represents the most relevant prior art and discloses a dolly like the one included in the preamble of Claim 1. The dolly described in this document is not suitable to support overhanging pieces of equipment and cannot be used to transport and load room cleaning equipment. The novelty of the present invention is provided by modifying the upper section of one of the two reverse U-frames, placing it in a vertical lying and integrating such section with members that are integral and coplanar with it, so that it is able to support pieces of equipment, not only suspended ones any more, but also overhanging ones and so that this modification and integration do not impair the dolly feature of being able to be reduced to a "parcel". No hinging axes common to the two reverse-U frames are introduced, leaving the existing hinging members unaltered next to their crossing and the composition and functionality of the underlying loading platform, with the related articulations, remaining unaltered. What has been previously stated is clarified by taking into account the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 axonometrically shows a dolly in the open position; Fig. 2 is a partially reduced side view of the dolly shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is the front view of the dolly, corresponding to the partially reduced view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is the corresponding front view of the dolly in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is the corresponding side view of the dolly in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are the corresponding loaded views of the dolly in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5; Fig. 8 shows the front view of a dolly in its open position; Fig. 9 is a side view of Fig. 8; Fig. 1⊘ and Fig. 11 are representations corresponding to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9; Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9; Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 1⊘ and Fig. 11; Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9; Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 16 and Fig. 17; Fig. 2⊘ and Fig. 21 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 16 and Fig. 17; Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 12 and Fig. 13; Fig. 24 and Fig. 25 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 22 and Fig. 23; Fig. 26 and Fig. 27 again show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 22 and Fig. 23; Fig. 28 and Fig. 29 show the improved dollies; and Fig. 3⊘ shows, as an example, a dolly according to the invention. Fig. 1 axonometrically shows a dolly in the open position, with reverse U-frames, crossed as an X and mutually hinged next to their crossing, with an underlying articulated platform. The two reverse U-frames, hinged in 2 and 4, are referred to as 6 and 8, next to their crossing. The two currently coplanar parts, mutually hinged next to 1⊘ and 12, are referred to as 14 and 16, and they compose the loading platform. The wheels applied to the ends of the two reverse U-frames 6 and 8 are referred to as 18. Fig. 2 is a partially reduced side view of the dolly shown in Fig. 1. The two frames 6 and 8 can be seen one partially near the other, with respect to the open position, having rotated around the hinges 2, 4 and the two parts 14 and 16 composing the loading platform mutually hinged in 1⊘ and 12, lifted at the center, not being in coplanar positions any more. The hinges of the frames 6 and 8 are referred to as 2 and 4 and the hinges connecting the two parts 14 and 16 of the loading platform are referred to as 1⊘ and 12. The wheels are referred to as 18 and the upper parts of the two frames 6 and 8 are referred to as 2⊘ and 22. Fig. 3 is the front view of the dolly, corresponding to the partially reduced view of Fig. 2. The reference symbols for the parts in Fig. 3 and all the following figures are the same as those used in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is the corresponding front view of the dolly in Fig. 1, while Fig. 5 is the corresponding side view of the dolly in Fig. 1. The dolly, which is in the open position, is free of every equipment and load. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are the corresponding views of the dolly in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, now loaded with a linen-carrying bag 24. Such bag 24 is supported on its lower side by the loading platform 14, 16, and is hanged on its upper side through hook braces 26 to the upper parts 2⊘ and 22 of the frames 6 and 8. The Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 described so far are related to dollies already existing on the market for years and that are therefore well known. Fig. 8 shows the front view of a dolly in its open position, composed of two frames 6 and 8 substantially configured as a reverse U, arranged as an X, hinged in 2 and 4 next to their crossing and of an underlying articulated platform, whose component parts 14 and 16 are mutually internally hinged and (are hinged) to the ends of the frames themselves. As shown by the Figures, the frame 8 is equipped with two members 28 that connect its sides to the upper part 22. Fig. 9 is a side view of Fig. 8. Frame 8 that, as said above, is in its open position, shows, on its upper part, a vertically-lying section 3⊘. The added members 28 (that can be seen in Fig. 8) are applied to this section 3⊘; they are also vertically placed and therefore are coplanar with the above-said section 3⊘. Frame 8, improved by vertically shaping its upper section and by applying members 28, is now able to support overhanging equipment. Fig. 1⊘ and Fig. 11 are the corresponding representations of Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, where the frame 8 overhangingly supports a generic piece of equipment 32 (shown diagramatically) and the platform 14, 16, going on performing its loading platform function, supports a generic load 34 (shown diagramatically). Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, with the difference that each of the additional members 36 to the frame 8 does not connect the side any more to the upper part of the frame, but connects two points of the same side. Obviously, the additional members 36 have the same vertical lying as the upper section 3⊘ of the frame 8. Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 1⊘ and Fig. 11, where the frame 8 overhangingly supports a generic piece of equipment 32 (shown diagramatically) and the platform 14, 16, going on performing its loading platform function, supports a generic load 38 (shown diagramatically). Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Frame 8, that has been further reduced as extent, so that its upper part 22 approaches the loading platform 14, 16, shows, like before, a vertically-lying section 3⊘ on its upper side. The additional members 28 are applied to this section, and they are also vertically lying and therefore coplanar with the above-said section 3⊘. Frame 8, improved by vertically shaping its upper section and by applying members 28, is able, as previously seen, to support overhanging equipment. Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, where the equipment that the frame 8 is able to overhangingly support, is represented by a wringer 4⊘ (shown diagramatically). In these figures, there are no loads applied to the platform 14, 16. Fig. 2⊘ and Fig. 21 again show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 16 and Fig. 17. In these Figures, in addition to overhangingly loading the wringer 4⊘ on the vertically-lying section of the frame 8, two buckets 38 and 42 are loaded onto the platform 14, 16. It must be observed here that the buckets 38 and 42 must be positioned before the wringer 4⊘ since the lower part of the wringer prevents its being positioned afterwards. It must further be observed that, in order to prevent the bucket edges from hindering the correct positioning of the wringer, the members 28 can be locally deformed. Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. Frame 8, that has been further reduced as extent, so that its upper part 22 approaches the loading platform 14, 16, shows, like before, a vertically-lying section 3⊘ on its upper side. The additional members 36 are applied to this section, and they are also vertically lying and therefore coplanar with the above-said section 3⊘. Frame 8, improved by vertically shaping its upper section and by applying members 36, is able, as previously seen, to support overhanging equipment. Fig. 24 and Fig. 25 show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 22 and Fig. 23, where the equipment that the frame 8 is able to overhangingly support, is represented by a wringer 4⊘. In these Figures, there are no loads applied to the platform 14, 16. Fig. 26 and Fig. 27 again show an embodiment corresponding to Fig. 22 and Fig. 23. In these Figures, in addition to overhangingly loading the wringer 4⊘ on the vertically-lying section of the frame 8, two buckets 38 and 42 are loaded onto the platform 14, 16. It must be observed here that the buckets 38 and 42 must be positioned before the wringer 4⊘ since the lower part of the wringer prevents its being positioned afterwards. Fig. 28 and Fig. 29 show that the improved dollies, described so far, in addition to being able to be reduced as dimensions, thanks to their articulation deriving from mutually hinging the frames 6 and 8 and from the various hingings of the two parts composing the loading platform, one to the other and with respect to frames 6 and 8, to which they are connected, can be further reduced, because the upper part 44 of the frame 6 can be separated from the lower part, being the respective sides of the two parts able to be mutually and telescopically coupled in 46 and 48. Fig. 3⊘ shows, as an example, a dolly according to the invention, where the vertical lying of the upper part of the frame 8, instead of being in a central position with respect to the loading platform, is displaced on one side. After what has been previously described and shown, it is apparent that the invention consists in the improvement of one of the two reverse-U frames, crossed as an X, pertaining to dollies that can be reduced, used to transport room cleaning equipment, and precisely in having shaped the upper part of such frame, imparting a vertical lying to it and integrating it with additional members, so that the above-said frame is able to support overhanging equipment. The amount of the upper part of the frame that is shaped with a vertical lying is not binding for the invention; the following are not binding as well: connection shape, way and position, and number of additional members with which the upper vertically-lying part of the frame is integrated. The position of the vertically-lying platform of the upper part of the interested frame is again not binding for the invention, with respect to the underlying loading platform, or with respect to the support plan composed of the wheels applied to the lower ends of the two reverse U-frames.

Claims: Foldable articulated dolly, suitable to transport and load room cleaning equipment, comprising: two reverse U-frames (6, 8) mutually hinged next to hinges (2, 4) located at an intermediate crossing along legs of said frames (6, 8) characterized in that it further comprises a platform composed of two parts (14, 16) mutually hinged in an intermediate position (1⊘), each one of said two parts (14, 16) being in turn hinged next to end areas of the legs of said reverse-U frames (6, 8), one (8) of the two reverse U-frames (6, 8) crossed as an X and mutually hinged next to their crossing (2, 4) having a section (3⊘) of its upper part (22) that is lying on a vertical plane when the dolly is in its open position. Foldable articulated dolly according to claim 1, characterized in that the section (3⊘) lying on a vertical plane belonging to the upper part of one (8) of the two reverse U-frames (6, 8) of the dolly is internally integrated with additional members (28, 36) that are integral and coplanar with it so that they make it suitable to support overhanging equipment (32), including wringers (4⊘), and arranged so that said additional members (28, 36) cannot affect the other frame (6) in any way. Foldable articulated dolly according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical plane in which the section (3⊘) of the upper part (22) of the reverse U-frame (8) lies, with respect to the underlying loading platform (14, 16) of the dolly or with respect to a support plan composed of wheels (18) applied to lower ends of the two frames (6, 8), can pass through a center line of the loading platform (14, 16) or be displaced from said center line. Foldable articulated dolly according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that an alignment axis of said hinges (2, 4) of the two reverse U-frames (6, 8) is in the vertical plane in which the section (3⊘) of the upper part (22) of the reverse U-frame (8) lies.

Inventors: ZORZO ROBERTO, ZORZO, ROBERTO
Applicants: T T S S R L TECNO TROLLEY SYST, T.T.S. S.R.L. TECNO TROLLEY SYSTEM
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B62B3
IPC codes: B62B3, A47L13